Button shank



April 18, 1944. 0.,GRIES 2,346,747

BUTTON SHANK Filed May 14, 1943 INVENTOR Orro GE/AIS ATTORNE Y Patented Apr. 18, 1944 2,346,747 BUTT-N SHANK Otto Gries, NewRo chelle, N. Y., assignor to Gries Reproducer Corporation, a corporation of New York Application May 14, 1943, Serial No. 486,946

3 Claims.

This invention relates to devices commonlyreferred to as button shanks, and adapted for attachment to button blanks manufactured with sockets to receive the shanks, particularly in the manufacture of what is known as pearl buttons, adapting the resulting buttons for quick attachment and detachment to garments of various kinds and classes by the use of toggle pins, safety pins or the like. Buttons of this type and kind are also adapted to be sewed onto supports.

More particularly, the invention relates to the construction of a button shank to provide thereon an annular protruding rib forming on an outer surface of the shank an annular seat for a tool employed in attaching the shank to a button to insure uniform spreading of the flared end of the shank in the button socket, thereby materially increasing production and providing buttons having shanks more securely retained in position.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description when taken together with the accompanying drawing in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed, and in which the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a button with one of my improved shanks attached thereto.

Fig. 2 is a side and sectional view of a shank as produced as an article of manufacture for attachment to a button.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the shank, as seen in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an exploded view, showing a button in section, a shank partly in section and diagrammatically illustrating the method of attaching the shank to the button; and

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating the shank attached to the button.

In the production of buttons of the kind under consideration, relatively high losses or rejects areexperienced by the manufacturer in the attachment of shanks to the socketed portion of the button. These losses or rejects are due primarily to the structure of the shank, and as a result, improper spreading or setting of the flared end of the shank in the button socket has been experienced. caused destruction of the buttons by uneven pressures of the button blank, and for other reasons. The primary difficulty being to construct a tool or punch properly shaped to engage the This operation has also tributed pressures while maintaining, at the same tools have rested on the flared portion of the shank, thus restricting the spreading operation.

The foregoing objectionable features are overcome by providing a circumferential or annular seat on the button shank adapted to receive a very simple type of punch, thereby maintaining proper alinement of the shank at all times to insure uniform spreading of the shank end in the button socket, as well as to insure unrestricted spreading of the flared end of the shank. In this connection, it will also be apparent that the simple punch construction materially reduces the cost of production of this tool.

To illustrate one adaptation of the invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawing one form or type of button shank IIJ, comprising a hollow or cup shaped mounting end portion ll, terminating in an outwardly flared end [2. The wall of the cup shaped portion being tapered to minimize the thickness of material of said wall, as indicated at I3 in Fig. 2 of the drawing, adapting the end I2 for free spreading into an undercut socket l4 on one surface of a button 15.

At the other end portion of the shank ill is formed a ring loop or eye "5, and in the construction shown the member l6 forms the means for attaching the button to a support or to receive attaching devices, for this purpose has outwardly contracted side walls I! joined by a cross head 18. Intermediate the end portions II|6 the button shank has an outwardly projecting annular rib or flange I9, which provides an annular bearing surface 20 completely encircling the member IB, as will readily appear upon consideration of Fig. 3 of the drawing.

The wall of the body H joins the rib or flange IS in a rounded bracing wall portion 2|, so as to distribute the blow of the punch to the walls of the body II in the operation of flaring or expanding the end I2--|3 of said body in the socket M of the button, as indicated in Fig. 5

of the drawing. The bottom wall 22 of the button socket is domed, and will aid to some degree the flaring or expanding of the end 12 of the shank. In some instances the wall 22 is flat.

For purposes of clearly illustrating the invention and the use ofthe shanks, I have shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing the lower portion of a punch or similar tool 23, which simply has an annular socket 24 for the reception of the member l6, and the annular ring like end 25 of shank in the effort to obtain the equally dlsthe punch 23 is made to seat upon the annular surface 20 of the shank, as is clearly illustrated.

From a consideration of Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawing, it will be apparent that equalized pressure will be applied upon the shank to equalize the spreading or flaring of the end 22 of the shank in the socket l4, while at the same time, maintaining proper alinement of the shank with respect to the button blank. It will also appear that the walls of the bell or cup shaped end of the shank are free and unrestricted in the spreading operation. It will be understood that the button blank is suitably supported during the operation of forcing the shank into the socket of the button blank.

Normally the flaring of the end l2 of the but ton shank is such as to pass freely into the socket M of the button blank, whereas when pressure is applied, the end I2 is extended into the annular undercut portion 26 of the socket I4.

A button shank of the character described can be mounted in connection with 'a button blank to not only securely retain the parts against displacement, but also to retain the shank in firm unmovable relationship to the button body or blank. In some instances the button may have a slight or free rotary movement on the shank.

For purposes of this description, the shank may be said to comprise a button mounting or attaching member, this member in any event provides means whereby a button may be at tached to a support in a more or less permanent as well as detachable manner, depending upon the retaining means employed in conjunction with the shank or member.

It will be understood that the bearing surface will parallel the outwardly flared end l2 of the body H in order to insure the equalized expansion of the body or flaring of the body in the socket It. It will also appear that the rib forms between it and the end 12 an annular recess on said body which accurately defines, on the resulting button, the shank. By controlling the length of the portion ll, the'required shank dimensions can be definitely controlled and regulated to adapt thebutton for garments having different thicknesses.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A button shank for assemblage in a button, comprising a substantially cup-shaped body having a flared open end, the wall of said body being tapered in the direction of said open end, the open end of said body. forming the button mounting end of the shank, the other end of said body being closed and having an enlargement forming an annular seat of a diameter within the greatest diameter of said flared end, and an attaching loop projecting from said seat and of an outside diameter less than the diameter of said seat.

2. A button shank comprising a tubular button engaging end portion, a ring mounting end portion, an annular projection intermediate said end portions, said first named end portion terminating in an outwardly flared annular wall, said wall being tapered and having a contracted free end, said annular projection forming an annular seat of a diameter within the greatest diameter of said flared end and less than the greatest diameter of said ring, and said first named end portion having an annular recess between the free end thereof and said annular sea 3. A button shank for assemblage in a button, comprising a substantially cup-shaped body having a flared open end, the wall of said body being tapered in the direction of said open end, the open end of said body forming the button mounting end of the shank, the other end of said body being closed and having an enlargement forming an annular seat of a diameter within the greatest diameter of said flared end, an attaching loop projecting from said seat and of an outside diameter less than the diameter of said seat, said loop being formed by converging rods joined at their ends by a cross-head, and the cross-head of said loop being substantially parallel to said seat.

OTTO GRIES. 

